The 6 most infuriating things about 'Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp'

ARGH!!!!!!!
 By 
Rachel Thompson
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

At first glance, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp seems like a soothing, wholesome game for those of us in need of some respite from the endless onslaught of terrible things in the world.

But, I am here to tell you that Pocket Camp will not bring you the antidote you so desperately crave. You will find yourself, like me, rueing the very day you downloaded the wretched game.

For those unacquainted with Pocket Camp, it's part of Nintendo's Animal Crossing series about building a life in a village inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. Pocket Camp's premise is much the same, only your home base is a customisable campsite.

The aim of the game is to ingratiate yourself with other animals so they'll come and hang out at your swanky campsite (should it meet their exhaustive list of requirements).

But, this game—while wonderfully calming and hopelessly addictive—is also downright infuriating. Here's why.

You build tents that you cannot even enter

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

One of the most disappointing things about choosing and crafting the tent of your dreams is that your character won't be able to get inside it. Oh, you can watch while all your guests make use of the tent, as they blow bubbles in their sleep. But, you—or rather, your Pocket Camp alter ego—won't even have the option of going inside your own tent.

The animals are demanding little sh*ts

The premise of the game is to befriend animals by doing favours for them—like bringing them fruit, insects and fish—to increase your friendship level with you. The point of nurturing your relationship with these adorable little animals is that they'll someday agree to come visit your campsite.

Of course, once you issue your animal with an invitation, you then receive a ransom list of Mariah Carey-esque demands that you must meet so that they'll visit you. Sure, it's all part of the game, but there's something in these animals' tone that feels a little bit haughty and rude.

You can't do very much with your friends

I was so thrilled at the prospect of visiting my IRL friends' campsites on Pocket Camp, but when I went along to my friend and esteemed colleague Damon Beres' camp, all I could do was bestow some kudos upon him, and buy two fish in exchange for some bells. Obviously I'm happy to give kudos, but that was basically all I could do. I couldn't have a conversation with Damon's alter ego, and, crucially, I was unable to make use of any of the facilities at his campsite. Nor could I speak to any of his guests. Making camp friends is, in short, boring and pointless.

You can't have more than one rug at any given time.

One thing that is really getting my interior design goat as I construct my campsite is that I'm not allowed to have more than one rug at any given time. I stupidly crafted a second green rug while labouring under the misapprehension that I'd be allowed MORE THAN ONE DAMN RUG.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

You just give and give and give

It's all give, give, give with Pocket Camp. I'm forever servicing the needs of these damn anthropomorphic animals, giving them cherries and running around to catch butterflies for them. But, where are my apples and peaches? Who's catching butterflies and bugs for me? Does anyone care about my needs?

You can't actually make use of any of the fun stuff

There's something deeply frustrating about crafting a camp busting with fun activities and delicious snacks only to find that you—the creator—aren't actually able to enjoy any of it. I have spent countless resources on cups of tea, pizzas, colouring baskets, drum sets. But, can my character enjoy any of these things? Nope! Playing Pocket Camp is an entirely selfless task. It's fine, Bunnie, go ahead and enjoy that cup of tea. It's fine.

All these (highly irritating) things considered, I'm still playing this damn game. And, my desire to keep on playing it doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon.

Topics Gaming

Rachel Thompson, sits wearing a dress with yellow florals and black background.
Rachel Thompson
Features Editor

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.

A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.

Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You

CES 2026: We tried an AI supercomputer that fit in our pocket. Meet Tiiny AI.
Tiiny AI Pocket Lab

Creators obsess over the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 vlogging camera, and it's finally on sale
dji osmo pocket 3 camera with stickers that read 'sale' and 'best price ever'

The internet is rooting for this abandoned baby monkey and his stuffed animal
a baby Japanese macaque monkey


More in Entertainment

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma


New Samsung TVs just dropped: Meet the new (but not) The Frame Pro and a curiously Frame Pro-like OLED TV
Samsung S95H OLED TV with purple abstract screensaver hanging on wall
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!